Think March Madness, but for creatives.
We’re bringing the energy of bracket season to the design world with Design Madness—a fast-paced, community-driven competition where 8 designers go head-to-head over three unique creative challenges.
Whether you’re a solo designer or repping your studio, this is your chance to show what you’ve got and win free Design Passes to Circles Conference.
3-Day Challenge Schedule
THU
Quarter-Finals • March 27
Poster Design
We’ll give you a theme, and you’ll create a custom poster based on it. You’ll have from Thursday, 11AM to 10PM CST.
Judged on:
Composition, Concept and Style
FRI
Semi-Finals • March 28
Homepage Design
We’ll provide a business name and description. You’ll design a homepage layout. You’ll have from Friday, 11AM to 10PM CST.
Judged on:
Creativity, Hierarchy and UX.
MON
Championship • March 29-31
Brand Buildout
We’ll give you a start-up business idea. You’ll have from Saturday at 11AM to Monday at 5PM CST.
Judged on:
Business Brand Name, Tagline and Logo.
The Bracket
Quarter-Finals
Thursday
Semi-Finals
Friday
Final
Monday
Champion
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Jenna Friedrich
Photographer/Designer at Dox & co.
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Esperanza Garcia
Graphic Designer at Tiny Giraffe Design
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Tim Lautensack
Graphic Designer & Illustrator at Tim Lautensack
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Dan DeHart
Owner/Designer at Daniel DeHart Design
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Justin Miller
Designer | Typographer | Illustrator at Killerdesigner
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Hayden Splawn
Graphic Design at Hayden Splawn Design
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Dylan Green
Graphic Designer at Dylan Green Art & Design
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Jenna Friedrich
Photographer/Designer at Dox & co.
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Tim Lautensack
Graphic Designer & Illustrator at Tim Lautensack
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Justin Miller
Designer | Typographer | Illustrator at Killerdesigner
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Dylan Green
Graphic Designer at Dylan Green Art & Design
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Tim Lautensack
Graphic Designer & Illustrator at Tim Lautensack
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Justin Miller
Designer | Typographer | Illustrator at Killerdesigner
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Justin Miller
Designer | Typographer | Illustrator at Killerdesigner
Final Theme
Welcome to the final round of Designer Madness. This is it—the ultimate test of brand thinking, creativity, and design execution.
You’ll have from Saturday at 8AM to Monday at 5PM CST to complete your submission.
Tim vs Justin
Finals Theme: Mental Health Brand for Creatives
This round challenges you to build a meaningful brand from the ground up—one that speaks directly to creatives and supports their mental wellbeing. The business concept is a modern mental health brand built specifically for designers, writers, artists, and makers. It offers tools like guided journaling, creative burnout recovery, weekly check-ins, and a supportive online community.
Target Audience: Creative professionals who struggle with burnout, self-doubt, isolation, or overwork.
What You Need to Deliver:
- Business Brand Name (meaningful, modern, and ownable)
- Tagline (clear, encouraging, and relevant)
- Logo (visual style should reflect calm, clarity, and creativity)
Bonus: Want to stand out? Include a simple one-page branding guide that shows your brand direction—think color palette, typography, and logo usage.
Shot Clock
The Designs
Final Designs
Tim Lautensack
Justin Miller
The Judges
Ismael Burciaga
Creative Director at Circles Co Collective
Paul Sirmon
Founder at Sirmon Brand Co.
Carly Kerndt
CEO at Flydog Digital
Sponsors
FAQ's
Why are you charging for this?
We’ve found that people who invest, even a small amount, are more committed to showing up and giving their best. It also helps us manage entries and keeps the competition focused and intentional.
Can I participate as a team or studio?
Yes! Companies can enter under one name, and if you win, you’ll receive 2 free Circles Conference Design Passes instead of one.
Do I have to complete every round?
Only if you advance! Each day, participants will be eliminated until the final two compete in the weekend championship. Missing a round or missing the deadline means you’re out—each challenge has a hard cutoff time to keep things fair and fast-paced.
How will the winners be chosen?
A panel of judges will review submissions based on creativity, clarity, and execution. This isn’t about perfection—it’s about bold ideas under pressure.
When will I know if I made the bracket?
As soon as you submit your entry, you’re in—only the first 8 to register will compete, and the form will close once all spots are filled. If you see the form, you still have a shot!
Where do I submit my entry?
You’ll upload your submission on our daily upload page. Just make sure to submit before 10PM CST Thursday and Friday and 5PM CST on Monday!
Can different designers from our company work on different challenges?
Yes — for company entries, you can have a different designer tackle each challenge. However, only one designer should complete each individual challenge. No team efforts on a single round. We’ll still credit the company overall when announcing winners.
What file types can I submit, and how many?
You can upload up to 4 files per entry, but only 1 is required. All submissions must be in JPG, PNG, or PDF format — no external links or cloud-based files. Make sure your final design is presentation-ready and easy to review.